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The National
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Nowruz 2025: What is the Persian New Year and how is it celebrated?
Festivities are under way for Nowruz, popularly known as the Persian New Year. Believed to have been celebrated for more than 3,000 years, the festival is held on the spring equinox to usher in the blooming season. Around 300 million people celebrate the occasion, though the start dates can vary between countries. It can be traced back to the ancient religion Zoroastrianism but has evolved to become a secular celebration, observed by people with Silk Road roots, including those from Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Kurds across the Middle East. Nowruz is a combination of the Farsi words 'now', meaning 'new', and 'ruz', meaning 'day'. The start of Nowruz varies in different countries because of time zones. It is marked during the vernal equinox, or the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, the festival starts on Thursday, March 20, in Iran. Similar to last year, Iranian artist Pendar Yousefi has created a Google Doodle for the occasion. The artwork incorporates elements central to Nowruz traditions, such as the haft-sin table, a display of seven symbolic items each beginning with the Persian letter 'sin'. These are sprouts for rebirth, wheat pudding for strength, olives for love, berries for the sunrise, vinegar for patience, apples for beauty and garlic for health. There are also depictions of activities during Nowruz, such as spring cleaning to prepare for a fresh start, decorating eggs, and even leaping over a bonfire, which is believed to cleanse energy from the previous year and invite vitality in the future. The Google Doodle appeared on the search engine on Thursday in several countries, including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, the UK and Canada. Celebrating Nowruz was added to the Unesco list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. Updated annually, the list by the UN agency safeguards traditions and ways of living in the face of increasing globalisation. In 2010, the UN declared March 21 as International Nowruz Day. Festivities typically run for two weeks. While there are many unique traditions connected to the celebration around the world, almost all communities will mark the day with a feast and by spending time with family and friends. People also give their homes a spring clean, buy auspicious items such as fish and flowers, and decorate their doors and windows with flowers. Many set their tables based on haft-sin. While buying sweets and nuts is common, most people also have certain go-to dishes during Nowruz, including sabzi polo mahi, or herbed rice with fish. It is traditionally served as the first meal of the new year in Iran. In Kurdish households, dolma or rice-stuffed vegetables, are a staple. Popular sweets include raisin and walnut cookies, and nan-e nokhodchi or Persian chickpea cookies. To celebrate, people light bonfires, set off fireworks and send wish lanterns floating into the night sky. Others jump over and around fires, chanting: 'My yellow is yours, your red is mine,' invoking the replacement of ills with warmth and energy. In more regional celebrations, people in Kyrgyzstan display traditional horsemanship to mark the arrival of the new year. Greetings during the festival include 'Happy Nowruz' and 'Nowruz Mubarak'. While Nowruz is a secular festival for many of the communities that celebrate it, it remains a holy day for Zoroastrians and people of the Baha'i Faith. This year, however, it falls during Ramadan when Muslims fast during the day. In Iran, tourism minister Reza Salehi Amiri said that Nowruzgahs – cultural events held to mark Nowruz – will be held after the evening iftar meals until midnight. 'We have formed a dedicated committee to ensure that Nowruzgah activities align with the sanctity of Ramadan while maintaining the celebratory essence of Nowruz,' he told state news agency Irna.
Express Tribune
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Google Doodle celebrates Persian New Year, Nowruz 2025
Listen to article Google commemorated the arrival of spring with a special Doodle marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz 2025. This year, the celebration of Nowruz coincides with the first day of spring on March 20. The Doodle was designed by Pendar Yousefi, and was released as part of Google's global recognition of the 3,000-year-old tradition that heralds renewal, hope, and the victory of light over darkness. Pendar Yousefi is a California-based UX designer known for his work on breaking down language barriers and creating inclusive digital experiences. In addition to his career in design, Yousefi has a passion for storytelling and art, and has recently released his first children's book. The Doodle is a celebration of Nowruz's deep cultural heritage and its message of unity, renewal, and hope. Through his work, Yousefi has captured the essence of this festive occasion, which unites people from different backgrounds and regions. For those unfamiliar, Google Doodles are short-lived artistic variations of the Google logo. They frequently appear to honour significant historical events, holidays, and notable figures worldwide. This specific Doodle, celebrating Nowruz, highlights the festival's rich cultural history and its widespread observance across various regions. What is Nowruz? Nowruz, meaning 'New Day' in Persian, marks the beginning of the Persian New Year and is celebrated by millions across the globe. Originating in ancient Zoroastrian traditions, Nowruz signifies rebirth, the arrival of spring, and the triumph of light over evil. Traditionally celebrated for 13 days, Nowruz's observances take place in countries across the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus, parts of South Asia, and even Europe. In the Persian tradition, families set up the Haft-Sīn table, a carefully arranged display of seven symbolic objects, each beginning with the Persian letter 'S'. These items represent different virtues or elements: Sabzeh (sprouts or wheatgrass) – symbolizes rebirth and renewal Samanu (sweet wheat pudding) – signifies strength and prosperity Senjed (dried oleaster fruit) – stands for love and wisdom Seer (garlic) – represents health and protection Seeb (apple) – symbolizes beauty and good health Somāq (sumac berries) – represents the sunrise and patience Serkeh (vinegar) – signifies wisdom and the passage of time The period leading up to Nowruz is filled with customs meant to purify the home and prepare for the New Year. One such practice is Khāne-takāni, or spring cleaning, which is believed to drive away negative energy and make space for new beginnings. An exciting part of the Nowruz celebrations is the fire-jumping festival known as Chaharshanbe Suri, held on the final Wednesday before Nowruz. During this festival, people chant phrases meant to dispel bad luck and welcome health and energy. This is followed by jumping over bonfires, a symbolic act of purification and renewal. Families also gather to visit relatives, exchange gifts, and indulge in special Nowruz dishes like Ash Reshteh (a thick noodle soup) and Sabzi Polo ba Mahi (herbed rice with fish). The 13-day celebration concludes with Sizdeh Bedar, a day dedicated to outdoor festivities and connecting with nature, marking the end of the Nowruz festivities.
